The Speculator

Francis William Edmonds, The Speculator, 1852, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Ruth C. and Kevin McCann in affectionate memory of Dwight David Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States, 1976.114
Francis William Edmonds, The Speculator, 1852, oil on canvas, 25 1⁄8 x 30 1⁄8 in. (63.7 x 76.4 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Ruth C. and Kevin McCann in affectionate memory of Dwight David Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States, 1976.114
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Artwork Details

Title
The Speculator
Artist
Date
1852
Location
Dimensions
25 1⁄8 x 30 1⁄8 in. (63.7 x 76.4 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Ruth C. and Kevin McCann in affectionate memory of Dwight David Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Figure group
  • Occupation — domestic — cooking
  • Architecture Interior — domestic — kitchen
  • Occupation — monetary — investor
Object Number
1976.114
Research Notes
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1976.114

Artwork Description

A rural couple listens skeptically to a representative of the Building Association, identified by the paper in his coat pocket. The salesman—whose top hat, pointed shoes, and umbrella mark him as a city slicker—promises the couple a better life as he unrolls a listing of "1000 Valuable Lots on Rail Road Ave." Francis William Edmonds's comic genre scenes captured the rough-and-tumble of America's frontiers. Democracy meant opportunity for all, and there were plenty of opportunities to fleece the unwary in settlements governed by few laws. Land speculators flourished as the railroads raced West and small towns dreamed of growing into great cities.

Exhibition Label, Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2006

Works by this artist (67 items)

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Henry Ossawa Tanner, Study, Christ Washing the Feet of the Disciples, ca. 1905, oil on plywood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Robbins, 1983.95.186
Study, Christ Washing the Feet of the Disciples
Artist
Dateca. 1905
oil on plywood
On view
Henry Ossawa Tanner, Untitled, n.d., oil on wood panel, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Robbins, 1983.95.188B
Untitled
Artist
Daten.d.
oil on wood panel
On view
Henry Ossawa Tanner, Study for Moses and the Burning Bush, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Jesse O. Tanner, 1983.95.207B
Study for Moses and the Burning Bush
Artist
oil on canvas
On view
Henry Ossawa Tanner, Study for Christ and Nicodemus on a Rooftop, ca. 1923, oil on wood panel, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Robbins, 1983.95.188A
Study for Christ and Nicodemus on a Rooftop
Artist
Dateca. 1923
oil on wood panel
On view

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Cass Gilbert, San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, 1898, watercolor and pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Emily Finch Gilbert through Julia Post Bastedo, executor, 1962.13.30
San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice
Artist
Date1898
watercolor and pencil on paper
Not on view
Cass Gilbert, On the Beach below the Promenade des Anglais, Nice, France, 1898, watercolor and pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Emily Finch Gilbert through Julia Post Bastedo, executor, 1962.13.31
On the Beach below the Promenade des Anglais, Nice, France
Artist
Date1898
watercolor and pencil on paper
Not on view
Cass Gilbert, The Lagoon, Venice, 1898, watercolor and pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Emily Finch Gilbert through Julia Post Bastedo, executor, 1962.13.37
The Lagoon, Venice
Artist
Date1898
watercolor and pencil on paper
Not on view
Cass Gilbert, Tower, San Francisco Romano, Rome, 1898, watercolor and pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Emily Finch Gilbert through Julia Post Bastedo, executor, 1962.13.9
Tower, San Francisco Romano, Rome
Artist
Date1898
watercolor and pencil on paper
Not on view